TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Canal Dredging Meetings Planned

ADVERTISEMENT

By MARK HOLAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 29, 2007

TAMPA - A group of waterfront residents supporting canal dredging near West Shore Boulevard and on Davis Islands will host two meetings next week to discuss the issue.

'Over the years there's been a ton of misinformation,' said Christine Acosta, co-chair of the Tampa Canal Preservation and Restoration Association.

The community meetings Monday and Wednesday at Plant High are aimed at answering questions and gathering suggestions before the city council considers the issue at an Oct. 25 workshop.

The association is working with city officials 'to enhance our environment by creating a comprehensive waterway management plan that results in the initial dredging and ongoing maintenance of the canals,' according to a statement the group posted this week on its Web site, www.tampa cpr.org.

Most city canals are filled with sediment because of a lack of maintenance and years of stormwater runoff, the association says.

In addition to dredging 20-feet-wide by 3-feet-deep channels in the canals, the proposed work includes environmental enhancements such as planting vegetation and oyster beds to provide habitat and improve water quality.

There are about 600 property owners along the targeted waterways, which are mostly north of Gandy Boulevard and south of Interstate 275. The association's proposal calls for the property owners to pay $8,000 each toward the estimated $6 million dredging bill.

The association and city are considering payment options such as annual installments over 20 years or a lien due when the property is sold.

The association wants the council to approve a collection method this year. Engineering and permitting work would take most of 2008 to complete before dredging could start. The project isn't expected to be completed until mid-2010.

Some South Tampa residents are challenging the city's plan to use a $1.3 million federal grant for canal dredging, however, saying the money should pay for cleaning up local lakes.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Public meeting on canal and waterway management
WHEN: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday

WHERE: Plant High School auditorium, 2415 S. Himes Ave.

INFORMATION: Christine Acosta at (813) 286-2965, Michael Weigner at (813) 282-8380 or city stormwater director Chuck Walter at (813) 274-8771

Reporter Mark Holan can be reached at (813) 835-2102 or mholan@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT